The Alaska State Council on the Arts announces that the deadline for Cultural Collaboration Project Grants will be June 1 for projects beginning July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010. Matching grants of up to $6,000 are available for 501(c)(3) youth serving organizations and arts/cultural organizations for programs outside the normal school year/hours. These grants support high-quality arts/cultural experiences where children/youth are active participants.

In addition to nonprofit arts organizations, Libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, Campfire and other after-school youth activity providers are encouraged to apply. Projects can be a literary arts program that has children writing their own stories; summer hip-hop dance classes; an after school program where young people learn how to make and play musical instruments from around the world.

The Cultural Collaborations Program of the Alaska State Council on the Arts supports high quality arts programs for young people. In addition to the Project Grants there are two other grant categories: Access Grants and Excursion Grants. Access Grants fund short term residencies during the school year for visiting artists for a maximum of $1,000. Grant deadline is thirty (30) days prior to the activity. Excursion grants fund cultural field trip transportation costs of up to $600 or $1000 for Title I schools. Grant deadline is thirty (30) days prior to the activity.

For more information on any of the above grants please contact Arts in Education Director Ruth Glenn at 269-6682 or toll free in Alaska at 1-888-278-7424 or email at ruth.glenn@alaska.gov. Grant applications are on line at http://www.eed.state.ak.us/aksca/AIE4_CCP.htm